Advocate Lutheran General earns sustainbility award from Practice Greenhealth

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital's commitment to environmental excellence has been recognized by Practice Greenhealth, the nation's leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care.

The hospital earned Practice Greenhealth's Emerald Award, presented annually to honor the environmental sustainability achievements of health care facilities that are setting the standard in eliminating mercury, reducing and recycling waste and sustainable sourcing, among other achievements. Winning hospitals have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability and shown leadership in the local community and in the health care sector. Lutheran General Hospital was among eleven Advocate hospitals to receive individual recognition from the non-profit.

"This is a great accomplishment that was achieved as a result of the hard work and dedication of the entire team at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital," said Maria Montanile, manager of patient support services and the team lead for the Green Team at Lutheran General Hospital. "As part of our commitment to sustainability, we will continue to focus on key outcomes such as increasing recycling and reducing our energy consumption."

For the 10th straight year, Advocate Health Care received Practice Greenhealth's System for Change Award, which honors health care systems working to reduce energy use, increase recycling, establish green building practices and set and meet other goals related to sustainability. The system's decade-long record of recognition represents the longest active streak in the United States.

"To be named among the nation's sustainability leaders is a direct reflection of our team members' dedication to responsible stewardship of our resources," said Al Manshum, senior vice president, operations integration. "As the health of individuals is inextricably linked to the health of our environment, we recognize that delivering exceptional care to our patients includes reducing our environmental impact and contributing towards a healthier environment in the communities we serve."

To learn more about Practice Greenhealth visit www.practicegreenhealth.org.